David Lloyd was a hero in the commentary box during the World T20 final
APRIL 5, 20166:26PM
James Matthey
news.com.au
@jamesmatthey
“CARLOS Brathwaite! Carlos Brathwaite! Remember the name!â€
As those words were shouted into the microphone, pandemonium erupted at Eden Gardens. West Indies players ran onto the field, fireworks went off and tears were shed — on both sides.
It marked the end of an incredible final at the World T20 in India, as the Windies downed England by four wickets to claim their second World Cup crown in the game’s shortest format.
Needing 19 to win off the final over, all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite hammered four sixes in a row off a hapless Ben Stokes to win the game for the Caribbean side. And while his exploits will live forever in the history books, something just as impressive was happening in the commentary box that didn’t get the same attention.
Former England batsman David Lloyd was partnered up with ex-West Indian quick Ian Bishop to call the final over, with the Brit the lead man in the first three balls of the over — all of which were deposited over the fence.
It was the type of finish commentators live for. To call the winning runs in the last over of an epic final — particularly a final that was being won with balls getting smashed all over the park — would be a career highlight for many.
But vision uploaded to Youtube shows Lloyd and Bishop in the box together after Brathwaite hit his penultimate maximum, with the man affectionately known as “Bumble†pointing to Bishop and insisting he take over the call. The 48-year-old initially looked reluctant to take charge, but Lloyd kept prompting until he picked up his microphone and went ahead.
That’s all class from the ex-England coach.
It was a special moment for an evidently pumped up Bishop, who raised his left arm in triumph when Brathwaite hit the winning runs. Check out the moment below.
Bumble's act of selflessness
Fabulous to be on......."over to you , Bish !" What a lovely man he is
t.co/PxT5cyMujw
— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) April 4, 2016
@hemantbuch @PeterDellaPenna It's nt something I wanted bt what @BumbleCricket did 4 that last period was Selfless & an example to me 4ever.
— ian bishop (@irbishi) April 4, 2016
Bishop, like every West Indian fan, has been forced to watch on as the once-mighty powerhouse has drifted into cricketing mediocrity over the past 15 years. They come in eighth in the ICC’s Test rankings and ninth in the ODI standings, but it’s in the 20 over game they shine brightest — ranked second behind India.
The right-arm seamer played 43 Tests and 84 ODIs for the Windies in his near-decade long career that began in the late 1980s, taking 161 wickets in the whites and 118 scalps in the coloured clothing.
The West Indies’ victory gives them another trophy to add to the one they acquired after their World T20 triumph in Sri Lanka in 2012.
www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/david-lloy...d3d15cc1178d4ce60326